Time for a fresh start: The report of the Independent Commission on Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

The Commission’s inquiry was prompted by concern about deep-rooted failings in the response to antisocial behaviour and crime involving children and young people. Large sums of public money are currently wasted across England and Wales because:

Children and young people who could be turned away from a life of crime are not receiving timely help and support

Those involved in persistent and serious offending are often treated in ways that do little to prevent reoffending – and may make their criminal behaviour worse.

...The Commission has concluded that the public can be offered

better protection against youth crime and antisocial behaviour by:

tackling antisocial behaviour, crime and reoffending through the underlying circumstances and needs in children and young people’s lives (a principle of prevention)

ensuring that children and young people responsible for antisocial behaviour and crime face meaningful consequences that hold them accountable for the harm caused to victims and the wider community (a principle of restoration)

seeking to retain children and young people who offend within mainstream society or to reconnect them in ways that enable them to lead law-abiding lives (a principle of ntegration).